FRENCH RACING TIPS: All the best bets for Friday’s racing with Fantasia du Rock backed for the Prix Jacques Delaye in Bordeaux
- Fantasia du Rock’s fitness will be put to good use over the fences on Friday
- She is yet to win over the large hurdles but is a strong contender in Bordeaux
- Sky Power could be worth a punt each way at the Prix la Lagune
Friday is a rather low-key day in France with mixed cards at both Bordeaux Le Bouscat and Moulins providing the action.
The sole jumps race on the Bordeaux card is the Prix Jacques Delaye, a conditions chase which has attracted five runners and it will be interesting to see if FANTASIA DU ROCK (5.15) can put her race fitness to good use back over fences.
David Cottin’s mare defied a 75-day absence at Auteuil earlier this month to win a conditional riders’ handicap in snug fashion and, although she is yet to win over the larger obstacles, she ran very well in a decent race of its type in February at Fontainebleau under regular rider Charlotte Prichard.
The sole jumps race in Bordeaux is the Prix Jacques Delaye on Friday with five riders
Kevin Nabet takes over in the saddle on Friday and Fantasia Du Rock probably has most to fear from the returning Ecris L’Histoire and Device who looked ring rusty last time behind My Way on his first start in nearly two years at Auteuil.
The Prix la Lagune looks one of the more interesting flat races on the card and there could be some licence in risking one or two units each-way on SKY POWER (4.35).
Handler Gael Barbedette has only sent out five winners in an embryonic training career, but the three-year-old son of Stormy River displayed enough encouragement on a first outing in six months at Longchamp to suggest he could make an impact here.
Race fitness could prove a useful attribute at this stage of the return to action and Sky Power was in the mix behind Arapaho before fading late on to finish seventh of 10 runners.
The selection wasn’t knocked about once his chance had gone and he could be some value each-way with one or two more high-profile stables likely to be favoured in the market.
